Biocompatible and biodegradable antiviral polymers

ABSTRACT

A water-soluble polymer having an aliphatic polycarbonate backbone, a first carbonate monomer with at least one hydrophilic functionality, and a second carbonate monomer with at least one hydrophobic functionality is able to completely and quickly eliminate a virus from a human and/or animal cell. The at least one hydrophilic functionality is a sulfate, a sulfonate, a carboxylate, and/or a phosphate and the at least one hydrophobic functionality is an alkyl. The hydrophilic/hydrophobic functionalities of the polymer may be tuned to enhance the antiviral properties of the polymer and/or to decrease any cytotoxicity associated with the application of the polymer to a human and/or animal cell. The antiviral polymer is biocompatible and biodegradable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to antiviral agents, and more specifically to biocompatible and biodegradable sulfonated polycarbonate polymers with broad spectrum antiviral properties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Viral diseases continue to be one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality since ancient times. In recent years, viral infections have emerged as an eminent global public health problem mainly because of a rapid increase in human population, aging, global warming, and medical treatments that suppress the immune system, the latter including irradiation therapy, anti-cancer chemotherapy, and organ transplantation. For example, the SARS outbreak of 2003, the COVID-19 outbreak of 2019, and the dengue virus (DENV), and the bird flu (e.g. H1N1) outbreaks have imposed enormous economic burdens on societies throughout the world. Other viruses that have been found in human populations include Nipah virus, the Chikungunya (CHIKV) virus, the Marburg virus (MARV), and a mutated avian influenza A(H7N9) virus. In West Africa, the detrimental Ebolavirus (EBOV) has become an epidemic resulting in the loss of more than eleven thousand lives. While significant effort has been directed to develop vaccines and antiviral drugs to control and eradicate viral infections, the rapid mutation of viruses, due to inherent genomic instability, makes vaccinations inefficient. Moreover, for many viral infections (e.g., DENV, CHIKV, MARV, and EBOV), there are currently no antiviral drugs available to treat the infections. Since there are so many types and subtypes of pathogenic viruses, particularly RNA viruses that easily mutate to form drug-resistant strains, it is impractical to deal with each virus individually. Treatment of viral infections continues to be elusive owing to the variance in virus structure (RNA, DNA, enveloped and non-enveloped viruses) together with their ability to rapidly mutate and garner resistance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention relates to composition comprising a water-soluble polymer with an aliphatic polycarbonate backbone, a first carbonate monomer with at least one hydrophilic functionality; and a second carbonate monomer with at least one hydrophobic functionality.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a composition comprising a water-soluble polymer with an aliphatic polycarbonate backbone, at least one carbonate monomer with a hydrophilic sulfonate group, and at least one carbonate monomer with a hydrophobic alkyl group.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for inhibiting viral infections in a human or animal subject comprising: obtaining a composition comprising a water-soluble polymer with an aliphatic polycarbonate backbone, a first carbonate monomer with at least one hydrophilic functionality, and a second carbonate monomer with at least one hydrophobic functionality; and administering the composition to a human and/or animal subject for inhibiting viral infections in the human and/or animal subject.

Additional aspects and/or embodiments of the invention will be provided, without limitation, in the detailed description of the invention that is set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a toxicity data graph that shows the percentage of cell viability of NTCP-HepG2 cells exposed for 24 hours at 37° C. to various concentrations (ranging from ˜2 μg/mL to 10 mg/mL) of the antiviral polymers, pS30, pS50, and pS80.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing antiviral activity of pS30, pS50, and pS80 at 80 μg/mL and 120 μg/mL.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing that pS30 killed off all coronavirus viral particles within 30 seconds of treatment.

FIG. 4 is an ¹H NMR spectrum of the protected sulfonate (PS)-functionalized cyclic carbonate monomer (MTC-OPS) in deuterated chloroform (CDCl₃).

FIG. 5 is a ¹³C NMR spectrum of MTC-OPS in CDCl₃.

FIG. 6 is an ¹H NMR spectrum of the n-butyl functionalized cyclic carbonate monomer (MTC-OBu) in CDCl₃.

FIG. 7 is a ¹³C NMR spectrum of MTC-OBu in CDCl₃.

FIG. 8 is the ¹H NMR spectrum of trichloroethanol (TCE)-protected pS30 (pS30^(TCE)) in deuterated dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO-d₆).

FIG. 9 is an ¹H NMR spectrum of TCE-protected pS50 (pS50^(TCE)) in DMSO-d₆.

FIG. 10 is an ¹H NMR spectrum of TCE-protected pS80 (pS80^(TCE)) in DMSO-d₆.

FIG. 11 is an ¹H NMR spectrum of pS50 in deuterated water (D₂O).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Set forth below is a description of what are currently believed to be preferred aspects and/or embodiments of the claimed invention. Any alternates or modifications in function, purpose, or structure are intended to be covered by the appended claims. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The terms “comprise,” “comprised,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” as used in the specification and appended claims, specify the presence of the expressly recited components, elements, features, and/or steps, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, elements, features, and/or steps.

As used herein, the term “polymer” refers to a macromolecule composed of repeating units of monomers that are linked via covalent bonds. Examples of polymers include homopolymers, which have a single monomer repeating unit, and copolymers, which have a polymer with more than one monomer species. Within the context of the present invention, the antiviral agents described herein are referred to interchangeably as copolymers and polymers.

As used herein, the term “alkyl” refers to a chemical functionality with the general formula C_(n)H_(2n+1). Examples of alkyls include, without limitation, methyl (CH₃.), ethyl (C₂H₅.), propyl (C₃H₇.), butyl (C₄H₉.), pentyl (C₅H₁₁.), hexyl (C₆H₁₃.), heptyl (C₇H₁₅.), octyl (C₈H₁₇.), nonyl (C₉H₁₉.), decyl (C₁₀H₂₁.), undecyl (C₁₁H₂₃.), and dodecyl (C₁₂H₂₅.). The alkyls may have any skeletal formula, which is identified through the use of an appropriate prefix. For example, the alkyl functional group may be normal (n-; example n-butyl), secondary (sec-; example sec-butyl), tertiary (tert-; example tert-butyl), or an isomer (iso-; example isobutyl). Alkyl groups are non-polar hydrophobic groups.

As used herein, the term “aliphatic” refers to carbon atoms that form open chains.

As used herein, the term “biodegradable” refers to a compound that may be broken down into carbon dioxide, water vapor, and organic material.

As used herein, the term “biocompatible” refers to a compound that is not harmful to living tissue.

Viruses can be classified as (i) RNA and DNA viruses, based on their genomes, and (ii) enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, based on whether the viral particles are wrapped in a host-derived membrane or not. Examples of RNA viruses include, without limitation, influenza, DENV, CHIKV, MARV, EBOV, and Enterovirus 71 (EV71). One non-limiting example of a DNA virus is herpes simplex virus (HSV). Examples of enveloped viruses include, without limitation, DENV, CHIKV, MARV, EBOV, HSV, and influenza. One non-limiting example of a non-enveloped virus is EV71. The difference between RNA, DNA, enveloped, and non-enveloped viruses prevents the design of a general solution for prevention and treatment of viral infections.

Most emerging and re-emerging viruses are RNA viruses. RNA viruses infect cells through interactions between virus surface proteins and cell surface receptors followed by endocytosis internalization wherein the viral and cellular membranes fuse and assemble into virions. A single virus particle can infect a cell through one or multiple cell surface receptors. Examples of cell surface receptors on enveloped and non-enveloped RNA viruses include, without limitation, (i) T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM-1/TIM-3) proteins (e.g., EBOV, MARV, and DENV); (ii) haparan sulfate proteoglycans (e.g., DENV, HSV and EV71); and (iii) sialic acid (e.g., EV71 and influenza). Once a cell is infected, the virion delivers its DNA or RNA genome into the host cell where the viral genome is replicated. Once the new viral particles mature within the host cell, the progeny virions are released from the host cell through rupture of the host cell or gradual extrusion through the cell membrane. Once released, newly formed progeny virions spread the infection from cell to cell. Over time, RNA viruses are known to mutate. In this regard, antiviral agents that are effective against one viral genome will not necessarily work against the mutated viral genome.

The antiviral polymers described herein are (i) have a broad therapeutic window, (ii) are water-soluble and non-cytotoxic, (iii) have a biocompatible and biodegradable backbone, (iii) have tunable moieties that provide the polymers with a hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance, and (iv) are highly active at low concentrations.

The present invention provides sulfonated polycarbonate polymers with broad spectrum antiviral properties that are able to completely and quickly eliminate a virus from a human and/or animal cell. The antiviral polymers act by forming a complex with viral surface proteins thus preventing the viruses from binding to cell surface receptors. Unlike existing antiviral agents, which attempt to kill a virus through target specificity, the antiviral polymers described herein selectively stop the replication of the viral genome, thus, mitigating the drug resistance that is inherent with currently used antiviral agents. The broad-spectrum capability of the antiviral polymers means that they are not specific to a particular type of virus and are capable of stopping replication of all viruses, including RNA-based, DNA-based, enveloped, and non-enveloped viruses.

In one embodiment, the antiviral polymer is a water-soluble polymer comprising an aliphatic polycarbonate backbone. As the carbonate bonds in the aliphatic polycarbonate backbone are facile and do not include any bulky phenyl groups and/or stiff chains, the antiviral polymers described herein are readily biodegradable with enzymes or other compounds that can reach and degrade the polycarbonate backbone into organic compounds that are not harmful to an organism and/or the environment.

In another embodiment, the water-soluble antiviral polymer has at least one anionic hydrophilic functionality and at least one hydrophobic carbonate monomer comprising an alkyl functional group. Examples of anionic hydrophilic functional groups include, without limitation, sulfates, sulfonates, carboxylates, and phosphates. In a further embodiment, the water-soluble polymer has at least one hydrophobic functionality. As is known to those of skill in the art, partially hydrophobic polymers maintain their water-solubility. The hydrophilic/hydrophobic functionalities of the polymer may be tuned to enhance the antiviral properties of the polymer and/or to increase the biocompatibility of the polymers by decreasing any cytotoxicity associated with the application of the polymer to a human and/or animal cell. In another embodiment, the water-soluble antiviral polymer comprises an aliphatic polycarbonate backbone with at least one hydrophilic sulfonate functional group and at least one hydrophobic carbonate monomer comprising an ethyl, a propyl, and/or a butyl functionality.

Following is a description of an exemplary antiviral polymer comprising an aliphatic polycarbonate backbone, a single sulfonate functionality, and a single n-butyl functionality. It is to be understood that the antiviral polymer could be prepared with more than one sulfonate or butyl functional group and that the n-butyl functionality could be replaced with an alkyl group as described herein.

Formulas (I)-(III) show the synthesis of monomers that comprise the antiviral polymers as described herein: Formula (I) shows the synthesis of a protected sulfonate-functionalized alcohol (Example 1), which is reacted with a cyclic carbonate monomer (MTC) to form the protected sulfonate-functionalized cyclic carbonate monomer of Formula (II) (MTC-OPS) (Example 2). Formula (III) shows the synthesis of a cyclic carbonate monomer functionalized with an n-butyl group (MTC-OBu) (Example 3). The antiviral polymers are formed by reacting the monomers of Formulas (II) and (III) to form copolymers functionalized with sulfonate and n-butyl groups where the sulfonate functionality is a water-soluble group and the n-butyl functionality is a water-insoluble hydrocarbon chain.

As described in Example 4, three separate copolymers were synthesized with sulfonate and n-butyl functional groups and a total degree of polymerization of around 20 with varying sulfonate content (30, 50 and 80 mol %). The polymerizations were conducted using a trichloroethanol (TCE)-protected sulfonate cyclic carbonate and n-butyl functionalized cyclic carbonate via organo-catalyzed ring opening polymerization as shown in Formula (IV).

As described in Example 5, the TCE-protected groups of the three copolymers were removed under mild reductive conditions using zinc in the presence of acetic acid. After deprotection, the n-butyl functionalized sulfonate copolymers were dialyzed against a solution of NaCl first, in order to remove any trace of Zn²⁺ as counter-ion, followed by dialysis against distilled water. The deprotection process for the TCE-protected copolymers is shown in Formula (V).

The six copolymers produced in Examples 4 and 5 were named as follows according to their sulfonate content and the presence of the protecting group TCE: pS30^(TCE), pS50^(TCE), and pS80^(TCE) for the protected copolymers; and pS30, pS50, and pS80 for the deprotected copolymers. TABLE 1 provides characteristics of the TCE-protected copolymers and TABLE 2 provides characteristics of the deprotected copolymers.

The cytotoxicity of the deprotected sulfonated polycarbonate polymers towards a mammalian cell line was tested in order to establish the biocompatibility of the antiviral agents on living tissue. As described in Example 6, the toxicity of the three deprotected polymers against HepG2-NTCP (human heptomacells, HepG2, expressing sodium taurochlorate cotransporting polypeptide, NTCP) was assessed over the course of 24 hours. As shown in FIG. 1 and TABLE 2, all three sulfonated copolymers (pS30, pS50, and pS80) exhibited a low cytotoxicity (IC₅₀>450 μg/mL) thus confirming their biocompatibility as an antiviral agent for human and/or animal use. TABLE 2 also shows that the IC₅₀ cell viability values decreased with decreasing sulfonate content; the pS30 polymer having an IC₅₀ of 470 μg/mL, the pS50 polymer having an IC₅₀ of 770 μg/mL, and the pS80 polymer having an IC₅₀ of 930 μg/mL. Reference to FIGS. 8-10 shows that the n-butyl content (¹H NMR spikes a-d) of the polymers is inversely proportional to the sulfonate content with the pS30 polymer having the highest n-butyl content, the pS80 polymer having the lowest n-butyl content, and the pS50 polymer having an n-butyl content that falls between that of the other two polymers. Because the IC₅₀ values of the deprotected polymers decreased with increased hydrophobicity (as indicated by n-butyl content), it follows that the hydrophobicity of the polymers influenced the cell viability. While not intending to be bound by theory, the increased hydrophobicity of the polymers likely caused an increase in cell cytotoxicity as a result of an increase in cell membrane disruption.

Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) is a highly infectious type of coronavirus which has been extensively studied and seems to share a number of similarities with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); thus, MHV is a suitable model for a preliminary screening of active antiviral compounds. As described in Example 7, the deprotected polymers deactivated MHV at concentrations of 80 μg/mL and 120 μg/mL in a dose-dependent manner. As shown in FIG. 2 , the antiviral activity of all three polymers increased when the concentration of the polymers was increased from 80 μg/mL to 120 μg/mL. The pS80 polymer showed the largest increase in antiviral activity jumping from 52.8% for the 80 μg/mL to 85% for the 120 μg/mL treatment. The pS50 polymer increased from 76.2% antiviral activity at 80 μg/mL to 89.9% antiviral activity at 120 μg/mL Of the three polymers, the pS30 polymer was the most effective showing antiviral activity of 96.7% at 80 μg/mL and a slightly higher antiviral activity of 97.7% at 120 μg/mL. FIG. 3 shows that the pS30 polymer at a concentration of 5 mg/mL completely eliminated the MHV virus within 30 seconds. The data of FIGS. 2, 3 , and TABLE 2 indicate that the antiviral activity of the deprotected polymers correlates with the hydrophobicity of the polymers. For example, the pS30 polymer, which is the most effective polymer, is also the most hydrophobic as evidenced by the high n-butyl content in that polymer. The antiviral and cell viability properties of the sulfonated polycarbonate polymers described herein are thus dependent on the hydrophobicity of the polymers. To ensure maximal antiviral activity and cell viability, the sulfonated polycarbonate polymers are tunable by altering the hydrophilic and hydrophobic functionalities.

The antiviral agents have applicability as an antiviral medicine for administration to a human or animal or as an environmental antiviral sanitization agent. The biocompatible and biodegradable antiviral polymers described herein may be administered to a human or animal through any route including, without limitation, intravenous, intradermal, intranasal, and/or oral. As an environmental antiviral sanitization agent, the antiviral agent may be in the form of, for example, an air sanitizing spray, a sanitizing spray for surfaces, or a hand sanitizing gel.

The descriptions of the various aspects and/or embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the aspects and/or embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the aspects and/or embodiments disclosed herein.

EXPERIMENTAL

The following examples are set forth to provide those of ordinary skill in the art with a complete disclosure of how to make and use the aspects and embodiments of the invention as set forth herein. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy with respect to variables such as amounts, temperature, etc., experimental error and deviations should be considered. Unless indicated otherwise, parts are parts by weight, temperature is degrees centigrade, and pressure is at or near atmospheric. All components were obtained commercially unless otherwise indicated.

The following materials and procedures were used in the Examples that follow.

POLYMER SYNTHESIS: All polymerization reactions were conducted in a glovebox filled with nitrogen.

MATERIALS: 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) was distilled from CaH₂ under dry N₂ and transferred to a glove box. N-(3,5-trifluoromethyl)phenyl-N′-cyclohexylthiourea (TU) catalyst and 5-methyl-5-carboxyl-1,3-dioxan-2-one (MTC-OH) (Formula II) were prepared as described in the literature (Pratt et al., Macromolecules 39:7863-7871 (2006) & Tan et al., Macromolecules 54:1767-1774 (2021)). Before transferring into the glovebox, monomers and other reagents were dried extensively by freeze-drying under high vacuum.

NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE (NMR) SPECTROSCOPY: ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of monomers and polymers were recorded using a Bruker Advance 400 spectrometer, (Bruker Corporation, Billerica, Mass., USA) and operated at 400 and 100 MHz, respectively. The solvent proton/carbon signal was used as the internal reference standard.

MOLECULAR WEIGHT DETERMINATION BY SIZE EXCLUSION CHROMATOGRAPHY (SEC): SEC was recorded on a Waters 2695D Separation Module (Waters Corporation, Milford, Mass., USA) equipped with an OPTILAB® rEX differential refractometer (Wyatt Technology Corporation, Coleta, Calif. USA) and Waters HR-4E column (Waters Corporation, Milford, Mass., USA). The system was equilibrated at 30° C. in THF, which served as the polymer solvent and eluent with a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, with an injection volume of 100 μL. Data collection and analysis were performed using Astra software (version 5.3.4.14) (Wyatt Technology Corporation, Goleta, Calif., USA, version 5.3.4.14). The columns were calibrated with a series of polystyrene standards ranging from M_(p)=360 Da to M_(p)=778 kDa (Polymer Standard Service—USA Inc., Amherst, Mass., USA).

Example 1 Synthesis of Tricholorethanol (TCE)-Protected Sulfonate-Functionalized Alcohol

In a 250 mL round-bottom flask flushed with nitrogen (N₂), 100 mL of tetrahydrofuran (THF) was placed in an ice bath. 2.30 mL of trichloroethanol (TCE) (23.9 mmol, 1.2 eq) and 8.32 mL of triethylamine (TEA) (59.7 mmol, 3 eq) were added to the solution. After leaving the solution to cool down for 10 minutes, 1.99 mL of 2-chloroethansulfonyl chloride (19.9 mmol, 1 eq) was added dropwise with a syringe. After 2 hours, 1.68 mL of mercaptoethanol (23.9 mmol, 1.2 eq) was added to the reaction mixture, which was left to stir overnight. The TEA salt was removed by filtration using a thin silica plug. The solvent was removed using a rotary evaporator to obtain a brown oil. The crude product was purified using a flash chromatography column with ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and hexane as eluent. A clear oil was obtained with 70% yield (4.37 g).

The synthesis of the protected sulfonate-functionalized alcohol is shown schematically above in Formula (I).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, 298 K, CDCl₃, 8): 4.75 (s, 2H), 3.81 (t, J=5.36 Hz, 2H), 3.58 (m, 2H), 3.07 (m, 2H), 2.79 (t, J=5.8 Hz, 2H).

¹³C NMR (400 MHz, 298 K, CDCl₃, 8): 93.44, 61.11, 52.00, 35.40, 25.25.

Example 2 Synthesis of TCE-Protected Sulfonate (PS)-Functionalized Cyclic Carbonate Monomer (MTC-OPS)

In a 250 mL round-bottom flask placed in an ice bath and flushed with N₂, 0.966 g of MTC-OH (5-methyl-5-carboxyl-1,3-dioxan-2-one prepared as described above) (1.5 eq) and 1.277 g (1 eq) of the protected sulfonate alcohol of Example 1 were dissolved in 60 mL of dry dichloromethane (DCM) with 0.049 g of 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) (0.1 eq). A solution of 1.156 g of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC-HCl) (1.5 eq) was prepared in 40 mL of DCM and added dropwise to the reaction mixture. Upon completion of the addition, the reaction mixture was left to stir overnight. The solvent was removed and the crude product was purified using a flash chromatography column with EtOAc and hexane as eluents to obtain MTC-OPS as a clear oil (1.728 g, 94% yield).

The synthesis of MTC-OPS is shown schematically above in Formula (II). FIG. 4 shows the ¹H NMR spectrum of the MTC-OPS in deuterated chloroform (CDCl₃) and FIG. 5 shows the ¹³C NMR spectrum of the MTC-OPS in CDCl₃.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 4.79 (s, 2H), 4.70 (d, J=10.96 Hz, 2H), 4.39 (t, J=6.48 Hz, 2H), 4.21 (d, J=10.92 Hz, 2H), 3.54 (m, 2H), 3.06 (m, 2H), 2.86 (t, J=6.48 Hz, 2H), 1.34 (s, 3H).

¹³C NMR (400 MHz, 298 K, CDCl₃, δ): 171.1 (—(C═O)—O—C₂H₄—S—), 147.4 (—O—(C═O)—O—), 93.5 (—CH₂—SO₂—O—), 77.3 (—CCl₃), 73.0 (—O—(C═O)—O—CH₂—), 63.9 (—CH₂—CCl₃), 51.6 (—(C═O)—O—CH₂—CH₂—S—), 40.4 (—C(CH₃)—(C═O)—O—C₂H₄—S—), 30.7 (—(C═O)—O—CH₂—CH₂—S—), 25.16 (—S—CH₂—CH₂—SO₂—O—), 17.5 (—C(CH₃)—(C═O)—O—C₂H₄—S—).

Example 3 SYNTHESIS OF TCE-PROTECTED N-BUTYL FUNCTIONALIZED CYCLIC CARBONATE MONOMER (MTC-OBu)

4.426 g of bisMPA (33 mmol, 1 eq) was dissolved in 50 mL of n-butanol with 1.50 g of Amberlyst-15. The mixture was refluxed overnight. The residue was filtered out and the solvent was removed by vacuum distillation. 40 mL of DCM was added to the resulting viscous liquid to filtrate the unreacted reagents. The solution was dried over MgSO₄, filtered, and the solvent removed to yield 5.25 g of clear liquid (27.6 mmol, 84% yield).

2.81 g of triphosgene (9.46 mmol, 1 eq) in 30 mL of DCM was added dropwise to a solution of 3.60 g of the bishydroxyl intermediate (18.92 mmol, 2 eq) and 9.20 mL of pyridine (113.54 mmol, 12 eq) in 30 mL of DCM over 30 min at −75° C. using a dry ice and acetone bath under nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was left to stir for 2 hrs under chilled conditions, then allowed to reach RT. The reaction was quenched by addition of 30 mL of saturated NH₄Cl, followed by washes of the organic phase with 3×50 mL of 1M HCl and 1×50 mL of saturated NaHCO₃. The organic phase was dried over MgSO₄, filtered, and the solvent removed under vacuum to obtain MTC-OBu as a clear oil (1.819 g, 8.41 mmol, 89% yield).

The synthesis of MTC-OBu is shown schematically above in Formula (III). FIG. 6 shows the ¹H NMR spectrum of the MTC-OBu in CDCl₃ and FIG. 7 shows the ¹³C NMR spectrum of the MTC-OBu in CDCl₃.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) 4.69 (d, J=10.88 Hz, 2H), 4.21 (t, J=10.84 Hz, 2H), 4.19 (d, J=6.64 Hz, 2H), 1.65 (m, 2H), 1.39 (m, 2H), 1.35 (s, 3H), 0.95 (t, J=7.40 Hz, 3H).

¹³C NMR (400 MHz, 298 K, CDCl₃, δ): 171.2 (—(C═O)—O—C₄H₉), 147.6 (—O—(C═O)—O—), 73.0 (—O—(C═O)—O—CH₂—), 66.1 (—(C═O)—O—CH₂—C₃H₇), 40.2 (—C(CH₃)—(C═O)—O—C₄H₉), 30.5 (—(C═O)—O—CH₂—CH₂—C₂H₅), 19.0 (—C(CH₃)—(C═O)—O—C₄H₉), 17.6 ((—(C═O)—O—C₂H₄—CH₂—CH₃), 13.6 (—(C═O)—O—C₃H₆—CH₃).

Example 4 Synthesis of TCE-Protected N-Butyl Functionalized Sulfonate Polymers

In a 25-mL vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar, 235.2 mg of MTC-OBu (1.088 mmol, 16 eq), 500.0 mg of MTC-OPS (1.088 mmol, 16 eq), and 25.2 mg of TU (0.068 mmol, 1 eq) were dissolved in 7 mL of dry DCM. 8.3 mg of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) (0.068 mmol, 1 eq), followed by 10.2 μL of DBU (0.068 mmol, 1 eq) were added to the solution to initiate the polymerization. The reaction mixture was left to stir at room temperature for 30 min, then quenched by the addition of excess benzoic acid (˜25 mg). After polymerization, the crude polymer was purified and any residual monomer remaining in the reaction mixture was removed using a SEPHADEX® (Cytiva Bioprocess R&D AB, Uppsala, SE) size exclusion column with THF as eluent.

Using the procedures from Examples 1-4, three TCE-protected n-butyl functionalized sulfonate polymers were prepared and named as follows according to their sulfonate content and the presence of the TCE protecting group: pS30^(TCE), pS50^(TCE), and pS80^(TCE). TABLE 1 provides characteristics of the TCE-protected polymers. The synthesis reaction for the TCE-protected polymers is shown schematically above in Formula (IV). FIG. 8 shows the ¹H NMR spectrum of pS30^(TCE) in deuterated dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO-d₆); FIG. 9 shows the ¹H NMR spectrum of pS50^(TCE) in DMSO-d₆; and FIG. 10 shows the ¹H NMR spectrum of pS80^(TCE) in DMSO-d₆.

TABLE 1 TCE PROTECTED POLYMERS Weight Number average average Protected Degree of molecular molecular sulfonate polymer- weight weight Disper- Sample content ization (g/mol) (g/mol) sity Name %^(a) Dp^(a) M_(th) ^(a) M_(n) ^(b) Ð^(b) pS30^(TCE) 30 20 5900 5300 1.18 pS50^(TCE) 50 19 6670 5100 1.18 pS80^(TCE) 80 14 5830 4600 1.18 ^(a)%, Dp, and M_(th) were determined by ¹H NMR. ^(b)M_(n) and Ð were determined by SEC/RI (refractive index) in THF using polystyrene as molecular weight standards.

Example 5 Post-Polymerization Removal of the TCE-Protecting Groups from the N-Butyl Functionalized Sulfonate Polymers

300 mg of the individual polymers was dissolved in 12 mL of THF and 6 mL of MeOH. 2 mL of acetic acid (glacial) and 200 mg of activated zinc powder were added to the solution, which was left to stir at RT for 1 hr. The solution was subsequently filtered and the solvent removed under vacuum. 10 mL of 1M HCl was introduced in order to acidify the solution. The polymers were purified by dialysis using a membrane with a 2 kDa cut-off.

Using the procedures from Examples 1-5, three deprotected n-butyl functionalized sulfonate polymers were prepared and named as follows according to their sulfonate content: pS30, pS50, and pS80. TABLE 2 provides characteristics of the deprotected polymers. The synthesis reaction for the deprotection of the polymers is shown schematically above in Formula (V). FIG. 11 shows the ¹H NMR spectrum of pS50 in deuterated water (D₂O).

TABLE 2 DEPROTECTED POLYMERS Weight average Half-maximal Degree of molecular inhibitory Sulfonate polymer- weight Concentra- Sample content ization (g/mol) tion (μg/mL) Name (%) Dp M_(th) ^(a) IC₅₀ ^(b) pS30 30 20 4030 470 pS50 50 19 4690 770 pS80 80 14 4370 930 ^(a)M_(th) was determined by ¹H NMR. ^(b)IC₅₀ was determined as the concentration at which cell viability was inhibited by 50% relative to the positive control by in vitro cell viability assessment.

Example 6 Cell Viability Assessment of the Deprotected Polymers on HEPG2-NTCP Cells

Human hepatocyte HepG2-NTCP cells were seeded at a density of 8×10⁴ cells per well onto a 96-well plate and incubated at 37° C. for 36 hours. To treat the cells, the spent medium was removed and 100 μL of polymer solution in fresh medium was added to each well. Subsequently, the cells were incubated at 37° C. for 24 hours and cell viability was determined using the ALAMARBLUE® cell viability reagent (Trek Diagnostic Systems LLC, Cleveland, Ohio, USA). The results of the cell viability assessment are shown in FIG. 1 .

Example 7 Anti-Murine Hepatitis Virus (MHV) Activity Assay

To test the antiviral activity of the deprotected polymers at low concentrations for 30 min at 37° C., the individual pS30, pS50, and pS80 polymers were dissolved in DI water to concentrations of 80 μg/mL and 120 μg/mL. 950 μL of polymer solution was mixed with 50 μL of murine hepatitis virus A59 (MHV-A59) (˜10⁷ PFU/mL) and incubated in a 37° C. for 30 min. After 30 min, 100 μL of the viral and polymer mixture was taken out and diluted in 900 μL of DME2 (DMEM supplemented with 2% horse serum). The solutions were further diluted serially to 1/1,000 and 1/10,000 the original concentration. As a control, 950 μL of water was mixed with 50 μL of MHV-A59 and subjected to the same treatments as outlined above. The results of the dose dependent antiviral activity assay for all three polymers at 80 μg/mL and 120 μg/mL is shown in FIG. 2 .

To test the antiviral activity of the deprotected polymers at high concentration for 30 s, the individual pS30, pS50, and pS80 polymers were dissolved in DI water to a concentration of 5 mg/mL (equivalent to 0.5 w/v %). 950 μL of polymer solution was mixed with 50 μL of MHV-A59 (˜10⁷ PFU/mL). The solutions were mixed by pipetting for 30 s, then 100 μL of the viral and polymer mixture was taken out and diluted in 900 μL of DME2. The solutions were further diluted serially to 1/1,000 and 1/10,000 the original concentration. As a control, 950 μL of water was mixed with 50 μL of MHV-A59 and subjected to the same treatments as outlined above. The results of the antiviral activity assay for the pS30 polymer at 5 mg/mL concentration is shown in FIG. 3 . As shown therein, the pS30 polymer killed all of the MHV-59 virus within 30 seconds of application.

Viral titers were quantified by a plaque assay with NCTC 1469 cells (neonatal mouse liver cells) serving as the host for the plaque assay. To perform the assay, 1.2-million cells were seeded overnight on 6-well plates. Prior to viral adsorption, the cells were washed with PBS. Next, 500 μL of viral sample was incubated with the cells for 1 h at 37° C. with intermittent shaking. After 1 h, a warm mixture of DME2 and agarose (final concentration 0.8 w/v %) was added to each of the wells. The well plates were incubated at 37° C. for 2 days before they were fixed with neutral buffered formalin and stained with crystal violet. 

We claim:
 1. A composition comprising a water-soluble polymer with an aliphatic polycarbonate backbone, a first carbonate monomer with at least one hydrophilic functionality; and a second carbonate monomer with at least one hydrophobic functionality.
 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic functionality is selected from the group consisting of sulfates, sulfonates, carboxylates, phosphates, and combinations thereof.
 3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic functionality is an alkyl group.
 4. The composition of claim 3, wherein the alkyl group is an ethyl, a propyl, and/or a butyl group.
 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the water-soluble polymer is a biocompatible and biodegradable anti-viral agent.
 6. The composition of claim 6, wherein the anti-viral potency of the water-soluble polymer is tunable by altering the concentrations of the at least one hydrophilic functionality and the at least one hydrophobic functionality.
 7. A composition comprising a water-soluble polymer with an aliphatic polycarbonate backbone, at least one carbonate monomer with a hydrophilic sulfonate group, and at least one carbonate monomer with a hydrophobic alkyl group.
 8. The composition of claim 7, wherein the alkyl group is an ethyl, a propyl, and/or a butyl group.
 9. The composition of claim 8, wherein the butyl group is n-butyl.
 10. The composition of claim 7, wherein the water-soluble polymer is a biocompatible and biodegradable anti-viral agent.
 11. The composition of claim 10, wherein the anti-viral potency of the water-soluble polymer is tunable by altering the concentrations of the at least one hydrophilic sulfonate and the at least one hydrophobic alkyl group.
 12. A method for inhibiting viral infections in a human or animal subject comprising: obtaining a composition comprising a water-soluble polymer with an aliphatic polycarbonate backbone, a first carbonate monomer with at least one hydrophilic functionality, and a second carbonate monomer with at least one hydrophobic functionality; and administering the composition to a human and/or animal subject for inhibiting viral infections in the human and/or animal subject.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the composition inhibits reproduction of enveloped and/or non-enveloped viral RNA in the human or animal subject.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the composition inhibits reproduction of enveloped and/or non-enveloped viral DNA in the human or animal subject.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the composition is not cytotoxic to cells of the human or animal subject.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the water-soluble polymer is a biocompatible and biodegradable anti-viral agent.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the anti-viral potency of the water-soluble polymer is tunable by altering the concentrations of the at least one hydrophilic functionality and the at least one hydrophobic functionality.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the hydrophilic functionality is selected from the group consisting of sulfates, sulfonates, carboxylates, phosphates, and combinations thereof.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein the hydrophobic functionality is an alkyl group.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the alkyl group is an ethyl, a propyl, and/or a butyl group. 